Question for those who have stayed off-site and had to park...

[JenB1104]

Is it a pain to have to drive to Disney and park each day? We got a deal on a hotel 14 miles away for 39.00 a night (brother works for hotel). We are going Nov. 21-26 so I am anticipating high crowds for the pre-thanksgiving days. Are we going to regret having to drive in each day and park?

Wondering if we should pay a bit more to stay closer and be able to walk. I found another hotel that will be new and near the convention center (supposed to be walking distance) with free hot breakfast each day and a dinner reception 3 of the nights we are there including wine and beer. We would also not have to rent a car if we stay closer.

Thanks!

 

[DLmama]

We usually stay close enough to walk, but our last trip, I found an incredible deal at a hotel just far enough that we drove. I did not care for it at all. We encountered a huge line getting into M & F and ended up getting diverted to the Simba lot. That was a LONG walk to get back to the car at the end of the day. This time we're paying a bit more to stay across the street. No driving for us.

 

[sheetz]

If you're driving in I've found it better to park at Toy Story than Mickey and Friends. It seems there's never a wait for a shuttle at Toy Story but you can wait for quite a while at M+F.

 

[JenB1104]

We usually stay close enough to walk, but our last trip, I found an incredible deal at a hotel just far enough that we drove. I did not care for it at all. We encountered a huge line getting into M & F and ended up getting diverted to the Simba lot. That was a LONG walk to get back to the car at the end of the day. This time we're paying a bit more to stay across the street. No driving for us.

This is what I was beginning to worry about. With our goal to be at park opening for lower crowd times this may prove to be a hassle to try and park. Thanks!

 

[rwhistler92]

I agree with Toy Story lot. Get there early and there is no wait to get in. At the end of the day there were always plenty of busses with little or no wait.

Waiting for the tram for M&F lots at the end of the day was a headache. We just ended up walking to the lot.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Factor the cost of parking and car rental into the equation also. You may be able to stay closer for about the same price and not have the headaches of parking and trams and what not.

 

[mikana876]

We are staying far away this time and considering just taking a taxi or Uber to the park to avoid the parking mess.

 

[CassieScraps]

We went for Christmas 2013 and stayed in Buena Park by Knott's. We really never encountered an issue with the parking at M&F. It was what I would expect for Disneyland, a little wait time, full lot, etc. I think the only time we had a "long" wait was leaving at the end of the day. But we got to the lot around 7am for 8am opening and always had plenty of time to get from the lot to gates.

I've also stayed close enough to walk, down Harbor Blvd and then about a block over on Katella and I wouldn't do that again, lol. That march to the hotel after a day at the park was brutal, especially with little ones. We ended up taking a taxi a few times and that was okay, but almost cost as much as parking and one night it rained and we waited 45 mins for a taxi, in the rain. I was really wishing I'd driven my car that night.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I have done both, been a passenger in a car and stayed near to the park
When driving
Get there before 9am and you should be ok with good parking in Mickey and Friends. They load the structure from the top down, the very top is open air (Minnie level) so its best to be on the next one so your car in not out in the burning sun all day.
Early morning you should not have that long a wait for the shuttle to the park.
Parking costs $17 per car per day

I have been at Disneyland this past week. I stay at Motel 6 Main Gate. To get to the park, its a 10 minute shuttle, on the Anaheim Resort Transport $12 for a 3 day adult ticket. I agree with PP, after a long day in the park, you really dont want to walk to your hotel, you need some for of transport. The walk to the shuttle bus area was about all I could manage, I really could not imagine having to walk to my hotel.

When leaving I have found it best to leave between 11pm and 11.30pm. At that time, the second Paint The Night Parade is on. It starts at the Train Station end of Main Street, so you can beat the main crush if you leave during the parade.

There are tons of hotels on the Anaheim Resort Transport lines or hotels which have their own shuttle to the park. If youwant to stay in Anaheim, then definitely find a hotel with a shuttle bus.

Also many hotels say they are walking distance, but distances are longer than they seem. A hotel may be beside Disney property but actually a good distance from the pedestrian entrance at Downtown Disney or on Harbour Boulevard (the shuttle bus pick up / drop off area)

 

[RKKUNK]

We have stayed off site and parked at M&F many times. We always get there before RD and have not had any problems. We usually walk right onto a tram or have a very minimal wait time. Like someone else posted, when we have had long waits, it was at night waiting to get back to the car.

 

[GoBears 1980]

To me it would depend entirely on the quality of the $39 hotel. If you are getting the Irvine Marriott at $39 a day I'd say it was worth the drive. If it is the Quality Inn Costa Mesa I'd say no way.

What is the hotel closer in with breakfast and beer/wine in the evening? If it is the Hyatt Place or SpringHill Suites I'd jump on it. I would not for a lot of other hotels in the area.

A car is nice, but only if you use it. If it is just to drive to DL and back, that would be a waste. If you use it to improve dining options too and maybe a beach day, that makes more sense.

 

[cagirl4life]

We rarely stay close enough to walk. So we always park. I have only ever once had the problems of a huge line and that was for the Friday the 13th celebration a few years. The M&F lot was only for people coming off the 5 and they diverted us from Ball to Simba lot. That was horrible because you have to walk over there at the end of the night. But I have never had an issue ever before or after that. We usually get there around rope drop and there is never a line to get into either lot. Sometimes you have to walk far to get to your car at the end of the night but that is only if you get the back corner. They do load top down but I have never been on the very top. And park where the CMs are telling you. I have seen many people park a lot farther away then they have to.

The tram in the morning is no issue. At night can be a little bit of a wait. If you go towards the back it is a lot quicker. The Toy Story lot is always a short wait if any at all. Just know what stop you are on Toy Story.

 

[JenB1104]

To me it would depend entirely on the quality of the $39 hotel. If you are getting the Irvine Marriott at $39 a day I'd say it was worth the drive. If it is the Quality Inn Costa Mesa I'd say no way.

What is the hotel closer in with breakfast and beer/wine in the evening? If it is the Hyatt Place or SpringHill Suites I'd jump on it. I would not for a lot of other hotels in the area.

A car is nice, but only if you use it. If it is just to drive to DL and back, that would be a waste. If you use it to improve dining options too and maybe a beach day, that makes more sense.

It would be a new (not yet open) Hilton Garden Inn for 39.00 a night close to the airport. The closer in hotel is a Hilton Homewood Suites (convention center area) that is supposed to be 0.9 miles from the parks. This is also going to be a newly opened hotel. If we stay farther out with a rental car we would probably do a beach day having the car, if not we would spread our time out in the parks more. Thanks!

 

[GoBears 1980]

Homewood all the way..... It is next to the Toy Story lot so in theory you could walk into Toy Story and ride the tram, but I'd just use the ART shuttle; it is just south 20-30 yards from the hotel. In the map below the orange balloon in the ART stop (routes 1 & 2) and the Homewood Suites is the open brown spot just above it.

https://goo.gl/maps/3AI3M

Here is the Street View of the Homewood from about 4 months ago. It is pretty much done on the outside now, just inside is being finished up.

https://goo.gl/maps/9aZ6Y

 

[GoBears 1980]

Oh..... and DO visit Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles while you are there.

 

[calilou]

We've been going 5-6 times a year the last several years and split our stays between onsite and offsite. Our usual offsite hotel is kind of a walk so we usually drive (we get free parking). I do not care for the Toy Story lot at all. I prefer the M&F lot by far. The only problem you may encounter is that mid-morning diversion to the Simba lot they sometimes do. When this happens I try circling around to get in to M&F. Yes this wastes time but I hate the Simba lot. You can expect waits for the booths at the busy times (mid-morning) and for the trams but it's never that bad.

 

[DizMe]

What time does M&F open? Is it 1 hour before park opening? We usually stay onsite but will be staying in Hermosa Beach for a week this summer and plan to go to DLR for a day. Have free parking but have never parked so don't know how to figure it out strategy-wise.

 

[scrapshappen]

FWIW, we prefer Toy Story lot too. Easy in and out whenever you are using it.

 

[bumbershoot]

This might not happen anymore, but two times that we drove in and wanted to park at M&F we were not allowed to even go that way. There wasn't an event or anything ,not even a big deal day, but there were huge long backups on the street and readerboards telling disney guests to go the way "they" wanted us to go.

I don't think I could handle staying 14 miles away.


Walkable is so personal. We stayed all the way down Harbor near Buca di Beppo and all but one day walked both ways. The first night we were beat and found a cab, but all the rest of the days we walked.

 

[calilou]

What time does M&F open? Is it 1 hour before park opening? We usually stay onsite but will be staying in Hermosa Beach for a week this summer and plan to go to DLR for a day. Have free parking but have never parked so don't know how to figure it out strategy-wise.

I do believe it opens an hour before rope drop, perhaps a half hour during the "off" season. I do remember going once and being early but having to wait about 5 minutes for the booths to open.

This might not happen anymore, but two times that we drove in and wanted to park at M&F we were not allowed to even go that way. There wasn't an event or anything ,not even a big deal day, but there were huge long backups on the street and readerboards telling disney guests to go the way "they" wanted us to go.

I don't think I could handle staying 14 miles away.


Walkable is so personal. We stayed all the way down Harbor near Buca di Beppo and all but one day walked both ways. The first night we were beat and found a cab, but all the rest of the days we walked.

This does still happen, I think once a day from what I can figure out. It's so that they fill the Simba lot. They usually divert traffic from M&F about an hour or so after DLP opening. So if park opens at 9:00 you may encounter the traffic diversion anytime between 9:30-10:30. We've avoided it by circling back around. Personally I'd rather get in the parks a little later rather than get stuck in Simba.

I'll add that the reason I don't care for the Toy Story lot is that it's kind of yucky. It's dirty, hot usually, smelly and the busses aren't much better. Plus we've experienced long waits there. I would rather start my Disney day in the cleaner M&F lot with the fun escalators and trams. My girls get excited to see what character's level we'll be on. Plus there's a restroom at the bottom! So that's going to be a personal preference - TS lot just grosses me out but it could just be me!

I'll also add that if you prefer to be on a more exact schedule with very predictable wait times then maybe M&F lot will frustrate you. There can be unpredictable waits (like the occasional traffic diversion) and longish lines at the booths.